Outdoor Environments Blog

With the arrival of fall you need to start thinking about how to prepare the exterior of your home for the cold winter months. During the next couple of weeks we are going to help you get your home winter ready starting with your deck.

Chances are the summer heat had an effect on our deck. You’ll need to clean, repair and protect the wood on your deck before the upcoming winter months. Make sure you clean your deck and remove all dirt. Check to see if any of the wood is warped or damaged and make sure all nails are correctly in place. You can use a deck cleaner for a thorough cleaning to remove any mildew or stains.

If you are considering staining or sealing your deck now is the time to do so, just wait at least 24 hours after cleaning to apply the stain. Make sure you check the color of the stain before you use it on your entire deck. Apply the stain evenly and we recommend staining the rails before the floor for easier clean up. And try and avoid staining or sealing your deck before it rains.

Outdoor Environments

You’ll probably need an entire weekend, or more depending on the size of your deck, for this project so make sure you give yourself enough time to get the job done. Also check the forecast and make sure the weekend is rain-free. For help you can give Outdoor Environments a call at 913-897-2706 or visit us online at Outdoorenvironments.com.

We are in love with Sutherland’s outdoor furniture collection. In 1991, David Sutherland and John Hutton transformed the outdoor furniture industry and made our job of creating beautiful outdoor living spaces a whole lot easier.  Sutherland has “inspired designers to consider outdoor rooms as a continuum of their stylish interiors.” And with top designers such as Philippe Stark, Terry Hunziker and Nick Berman creating collections for Sutherland, it is easy to see the appeal.

Take a look at some of their stylish outdoor furniture below.

From Sutherland

From Sutherland

From Sutherland

From Sutherland

From Sutherland

One of the best things about Sutherland is that their pieces are designed using sustainable materials such as teak, a hardwood that is resistant to the harsh outdoor elements. Their latest collection, Great Lakes, even uses recycled milk cartons for table tops and chair backs. Nothing says nature better than Sutherland!

We are currently offering a special deal at Outdoor Environments to help you get ready for the cooler fall weather. Please print out the below coupon and bring it into our store before October 31, 2010 to receive a $500 savings on your next Outdoor Environment outdoor living area (minimum purchase of $15,000).  You will also receive a complimentary design from one of our experts.

Step up your outdoor entertaining this fall with these great ideas from CasaSugar! From making a recycled glass chandelier to making use out of your pool during the fall months, these end-of-season décor  ideas will have your guests talking about your party well into winter.

From CasaSugar

What better way to serve your drinks than with this great drink dispenser.

From Interior and food stylist Paul Lowe. Source: Photo by Frances Janisch

Interior and food stylist Paul Lowe advises, “When you work with flowers you will always have some flower heads that fall of the stems. Don’t throw them away. Fill eggcups with water and place the flower heads in them. ” Thanks for the tip Paul, we love the look!

From Alison Events

We love the floral arrangements displayed in this pool. Although most of you are closing your pools in anticipation for the winter months, this is a perfect way to highlight the area one last time before you close it.

From CasaSugar

Exercise your three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle) this month with this outdoor chandelier. Visit casasugar.com for details on how to make this incredible outdoor light.

For more ways on how to entertain your guests this fall check out the article on Casasugar.com.

I love dining al fresco during early stages of autumn. The leaves are beginning to change colors and there is a cool, crisp breeze in the air, not to mention fewer bugs. Below are some of my favorite table settings for fall to help get you in the mood for outdoor dining. Enjoy!

From Rustic Chic

From Coastal Living

From Southern Accents

From Southern Living

Labor Day usually signifies the end of summer for many Americans. You might think the time for lounging outdoors has come to an end as well, but for some it becomes even more enjoyable. No more pesky mosquitoes to interrupt your time outdoors and with cooler weather you aren’t rushing to head back indoors to avoid the heat. To help extend your outdoor living well into the fall try installing an outdoor fireplace or fire pit so you can keep warm during the colder months.

Below are some of the fireplaces and fire pits installed by Outdoor Environments.

Outdoor Fireplace by Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Fireplace by Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Fire Pit by Outdoor Environments

Outdoor Fire Pit by Outdoor Environments

For more information please give us a call at 913-897-2706 or visit us online at Outdoorenvironments.com.

We love creating outdoor spaces for our clients that can be multi-functional. Porches are great because they can be used for entertaining friends, relaxing after a long day at work, a place for the kids to cool off from summer’s heat… the list is endless. We recently found some great ideas for porches on the My Home Ideas site. Here are a few we like:

In this inside out style, a clever pass-through leads to an outdoor kitchen with all the necessities, including a sink, grill, and under counter storage. The barn doors allow the owners to close the area off completely when the weather doesn’t cooperate with outdoor plans.

Screened porches are a great ways to bridge the gap between the indoors and outdoors.  They also extend the living area of the home to accommodate guests, as well as serve as an extra kitchen.

The indoor kitchen in this screened cabana includes a professional grade grill, draft beer dispenser, and a warming drawer. With indoor and outdoor seating, as well as the small pool and firepit, this porch is the ultimate place for entertaining all year long!

Check out My Home Ideas to see the rest of their favorite porches for entertaining. Find something inspirational? Let us know so we can help create the porch of your dreams!

Photo credit: Myhomeideas.com.

We’ve said it before, but we love creating an outdoor living space for our clients to enjoy. When space is limited we often suggest something along the lines of a terrace. A more intimate setting, a terrace still offers the homeowners a place to go and enjoy the fresh air and night sky.

We came across these beautiful terraces in The New York Times Magazine style section. Located in London, each of these terraces offers the homeowner a different outdoor experience.

Rita Konig for The New York Times Magazine

This above terrace is used, according to Rita Konig with the Times, for dining alfresco. I bet the view of this quaint little terrace is exquisite from the inside.

Rita Konig from The New York Times Magazine

According to Rita, “The other terrace is more of an outdoor sitting room, with a banquette, brass sconces, and an outdoor fireplace. There is also an awning that can come down at night, and wall heaters that allow the terrace to be used well into the fall.”

We love the look and feel of both terraces, the perfect complement to any home. What do you think?

We are aware that summer is almost over and we might be a little late introducing our new favorite product, but it’s better late than never. Recently we stumbled across the UVSunSense wristband on Good Housekeeping and we wanted to share the good find with you. The UVSunSense wristband was developed by a nuclear physicist and lets you know when your sunscreen has worn off.  How many of us forget to reapply the sunscreen while at the beach or pool only to later realize that we’ve been sunburned.

This product uses photochromatic dyes to indicate whether you are protected or not with your sunscreen. First you apply the sunscreen (you must use a SPF of 15 or higher) to your skin and the band. The color of the wristband will turn a lavender shade to let you know when it is time to reapply. If the band becomes a pale yellow, than your skin is in trouble. The great thing about this product is that it works in both salt and chlorinated water.

So spend the rest of the summer secure in knowing that you and your loved ones are protected from the sun.

We came across these inspiring outdoor living spaces on HGTV and wanted to share them with you, our readers. Outdoor fireplaces and kitchens have become very popular within the last couple of years. It makes for a perfect place to spend your evenings.  These additions not only add beauty to your outdoors, but they can add convenience as well.